The Persistent Challenge to King County’s Treasurer
After multiple successful re-elections, Captain George D. Hill faced a legal challenge from an opponent who argued his military commission made him ineligible for the office.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
John F. Damon, who for the past six years has been relentless (and so far unsuccessful) in his endeavors to defeat Capt. Hill, who has repeatedly been elected to the office of County Treasurer by large majorities, through his attorney, W. H. White, filed with the County Auditor yesterday a written statement contesting the right of Capt. Hill to be elected to or to hold the office of County Treasurer. This seems like a rather queer proceeding in the face of Capt. Hill’s election by so large a majority. The particular cause and objection against the right of Capt. Hill to hold said office is that at the time of his election, he belonged to the army of the United States of America; also, at the time of said election, he held a commission and appointment as an officer in the United States army. The Auditor served a notice on the Probate Judge, and the case will be set for hearing in a few days. The action is generally considered by those with whom we have conversed as malicious on the part of Mr. Damon. Capt. Hill does not seem the least disturbed over the matter, apparently feeling assured of a complete vindication in due time.
“This seems like a rather queer proceeding, in the face of Capt. Hill’s election by so large a majority.”
This 1880 dispute over eligibility and 'malicious' legal challenges to election outcomes highlights the long-standing friction between local voters and the administrative hurdles of holding public office in King County. Even 140 years ago, election results were treated as battlegrounds for professional disputes and personal vendettas, echoing the litigious nature of modern local politics.
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